Identity Theft Solution - A Three-Way Street

An effective identity theft solution can't only be the work of a single entity. You can take all the precautions necessary, for example, but if your bank does not set up a proactive identity theft solution, then your precautions may fail.

Every identity theft solution, therefore, should be the result of cooperation among the consumer, industry, and the government:

• The consumer has to be vigilant;
• Industry should protect the consumer's data; and
• Government should legislate and regulate industry and consumer standards as well as prosecute violators and identity thieves.

Identity Theft Solution - Consumer Practices

You have several identity theft solution options, but they all have to do with either of two things: your computing habits or with the way you transmit and receive personal information.

Computing identity theft solution (i.e., Data storage, Web surfing, etc.)

• Use passwords to protect personal data
• Visit only secure websites
• Run periodic virus scans

Info transmitting/receiving identity theft solution

• Set up a Firewall to regulate the data you receive
• Ensure the way you receive bills/documents is secure
• Limit SSN and driver's license number usage by offering an alternative ID number

Identity Theft Solution - Industry Practices

Don't think that you can't control industry practices. As a consumer, you can because you always have the right to take your business elsewhere. You also have the capacity to let OTHER consumers know how dissatisfied you are with the service.

In summer of 2005, the American credit industry set up strict new identity theft solution measures in place. The aim was to create a more secure client information database that would be free from cyber-tampering.

Banks and credit companies have also began writing their clients, explaining each new identity theft safeguard they implement and alerting consumers if their data has been compromised.

Identity Theft Solution - Government Practices
Congress is in the process of crafting stricter federal laws that penalize database proprietors who have substandard security. Laws are also in place that allow you to have greater control of identity theft flashpoints like your credit, for instance. Half the states have set us Credit Alert laws so you can stop new credit cards from being opened under your name.

As far as managing your personal data in government records goes, states and federal databases have redacted your sensitive information long ago. Some states have even limited the amount of data you can access online.

Stricter identity theft solution practices have probably set e-government in America a few years back compared to countries like Singapore, for example, but considering the dangers of the alternative, not many people are complaining.